Followers

Monday, November 15, 2010

Since demand was so high for Avenged Sevenfold tickets during their last tour, they decided to be cool and hook fans up with a new tour dubbed the Nightmare After Christmas tour.

A7X announced 18 dates that will kick off January 20th in Reading, PA and it’ll go until February 12th with a final show in Kennewick, WA. Making the tour even more gooder (it’s a real word) is that Stone Sour will be opening for them. Sadly, Hollywood Undead is also on the bill so I suggest showing up right after they finish.

Tickets go on sale starting December 3rd and all of the tour dates can be seen down below.

Monday, November 8, 2010

"More Than a Feeling" is a song by the rock band Boston released as the lead single from their self-titled debut album on Epic Records in September 1976, with "Smokin" on the flipside. The single peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100.

Their biggest hit, it took 5 years for guitarist Tom Scholz to write the song.

Friday, November 5, 2010

"Spirit in the Sky" is a song written and originally recorded by Norman Greenbaum and released in 1969. The single sold two million copies in 1969 and 1970 and reached number three in the U.S. Billboard chart, as well as number one on the UK, Australian and Canadian charts in 1970. Rolling Stone ranked "Spirit in the Sky" #333 on their list of the 500 Greatest songs of all time. The song was featured on the 1969 album of the same name.

Greenbaum had previously been a member of psychedelic band Dr West's Medicine Show and Junk Band. When they split up he won a solo contract with producer Erik Jacobsen, who had previously worked successfully with The Lovin Spoonful. He was inspired to write the song after watching Porter Wagoner on TV singing a gospel song. Greenbaum later said : "I thought, 'Yeah, I could do that,' knowing nothing about gospel music, so I sat down and wrote my own gospel song. It came easy. I wrote the words in 15 minutes."
"Spirit in the Sky" contains lyrics about the afterlife, making several references to Jesus. However, Greenbaum, who is Jewish, stated that he had no particular religious intentions with the song.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Today, something very special. This is one of my all time favorite songs. It's written by Buddy Miles, and there are other versions of it, but none of them very good. This one however includes Jimi Hendrix, and as a result, is damn amazing.

This was performed live at the Fillmore East (like the other Band of Gypsys songs), a full 16 minutes long. The album versions are edited heavily. You have a 5 and 9 minute release, but to enjoy this song fully, you have to listen to this one.

Buddy almost turns it into a gospel session, the audiance goes truly apeshit on this one. However, this is not an official release (it's a bootleg), so around the first minute mark the quality drops. But in this case it isn't that bad, because it really sounds like you are actually there, instead of listening to a clean studio release.

I really suggest listening this one all the way if you are into some very, very groovy guitar. Enjoy!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

In a recent interview with Grohl has revealed something spectacular: Foo Fighters are in the midst of recording their next album, which will feature a cameo by Krist Novoselic and will be produced by Butch Vig.

"This whole project has been really cool," Grohl told Zane Lowe on Radio 1. "I haven't made a record with Butch for 20 years." Vig, you may remember, was behind the boards when Grohl and Novoselic's old band, Nirvana, recorded their breakthrough, Nevermind. And while Nirvana made one more studio album after that, Grohl and Novoselic haven't made music together since, although they certainly keep in touch (along with Kurt Cobain's widow, Courtney Love) to watch over the seminal band's legacy.

In the interview, Grohl revealed that Novoselic will play bass on one track for the new record, Foo Fighters' first since 2007's Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. Right now, the band are about halfway through the process of making the album in Grohl's garage. "Each song is full on, the whole record is full on," Grohl said. "In the 14 songs there's not one acoustic guitar, there's not even one in the house."

This new album represents a refocusing of Grohl's creative energy after spending a lot of 2009 with his new supergroup Them Crooked Vultures. (There was a thought that TCV were working in a follow-up to last year's self-titled-debut, but that now seems to be up in the air.) "The last two and a half years has been really fun but I miss it," he said. "I miss being in the Foo Fighters." And considering that the Foo are now in the midst of their longest gap between studio records in their career, it's a safe bet that their fans have missed them, too.

Monday, October 25, 2010

I've been listening to this one a lot lately. I get the impression not that many people know about this song, my guess is it was not that popular. But it's really a gem, I just love the feel of the song. The song's lyrics are said to be insprired by the 1969 movie of the same name (you know, that one with Dennis Hopper).

The completed song was originally released on the 1971 album The Cry of Love – the first posthumous album of original material compiled by The Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell and engineer Eddie Kramer. As well as featuring on posthumously released live albums Live At The Fillmore East and Blue Wild Angel: Live at the Isle of Wight, "Ezy Ryder" was included on the 1997 compilation First Rays of the New Rising Sun along with the rest of the songs from The Cry of Love.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Today some more Hendrix. Yes, I make lots of posts about him, but that's because he just has so many damn good songs. I already posted this one as my first post, but back then I had almost zero followers. Now I've got more, and more people to share this with, because it's really a gem.

Again we have the Band of Gypsys (which is also the name of the live album recorded in 1970) playing which consist of Jimi Hendrix, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles. Why I keep coming back to this album is because this was the new direction Hendrix was heading. We have Electric Ladyland which was one his best known albums. It was mainly psychedelic rock. But in 1970 Jimi was tired of it, he wanted something new. So he reformed his band, and came up with Band of Gypsys. His focus shifted to a more funky sound. And this is something entirely different.

Someone who listened to many Hendrix albums will surely notice the difference between his earlier work and Band of Gypsys. It's a cleaner sound, supported by a groovy bassline provided byBilly Cox ('replacement' for Noel Redding). The drum sound is different as well. Buddy Miles is a power drummer. When you listen to for instance Electric Ladyland, with Mitch Mitchell on drums, the drums are more in the background. Miles' drumming is at almost the same height as the guitarwork. And on top of that, Miles also delivers some very good singing. I really like it because singing was never one of Jimi's strong points.

Some people dislike this change, but I find it brilliant. I prefer this groovier sound to the old one, by miles. But that doesn't mean his earlier work was not good, just different.

Who Knows is the first song on the album. It really catches you, the instant the song starts. The riff that's being repeated throughout the song. Also, Miles does most of the singing here, and it really fits.
Followed by lots of other great songs. For those that want to hear more Band of Gypsys, listen to their eponymous album and the Live at the Fillmore East album.

And for those that don't want to read this wall of text, just listen to the song, and maybe you will read it.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Everyone knows The Eagles, and this is their most famous song from the album with the same name. And with reason. Lots of emotion in here

The song's lyrics describe the title establishment as a luxury resort where "you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave." On the surface, the song tells the tale of a weary traveler who becomes trapped in a nightmarish luxury hotel that at first appeared inviting and tempting. The song is an allegory about hedonism and self-destruction in the Southern California music industry of the late 1970s; Don Henley called it "our interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles" and later reiterated "it's basically a song about the dark underbelly of the American dream and about excess in America, which is something we knew a lot about.In 2008, Don Felder described the origins of the lyrics:

Don Henley and Glenn wrote most of the words. All of us kind of drove into LA at night. Nobody was from California, and if you drive into LA at night... you can just see this glow on the horizon of lights, and the images that start running through your head of Hollywood and all the dreams that you have, and so it was kind of about that... what we started writing the song about. Coming into LA... and from that Life in the Fast Lane came out of it, and Wasted Time and a bunch of other songs.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Have been listening to this today, I heard the song a lot of times but I never knew the title. Free is an English band formed in 1968. They're mostly known for this song, but also for Fire and Water and Wishing Well.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

This year, Slash has been busy promoting his new album Slash, and he's also been touring. But a few days ago he gave some info on his long-dormant band Velvet Revolver. And yes, they might be up to something!

On his Myspace page, Slash said: "VR is back together jamming, trying out singers. No updates yet. But it's great to hook up with Duff [McKagan], Matt [Sorum] & Dave [Kushner] after all this time. I'll keep you posted on any interesting developments from those sessions as they happen. The creative juices are definitely flowing. I'm positive something awesome is going to surface soon."

It's pretty awesome Velvet Revolver might be going to do something soon. They have been looking for a lead singer ever since Scott Weiland left the band in 2008 to get back together with the Stone Temple Pilots. Then, early this year bassist Duff McKagan announced he'd be joining Jane's Addiction, but that only laster for six months, and came back.

But don't cheer too soon, Slash's comments leave room for the possibility that nothing will come of these jam sessions. Don't forget that McKagan also has his own band, Loaded, that's releasing their new album next year. On top of that Slash also mentioned this in his Myspace update: "I'm also working on killer new material for a future solo (or not) release. The details of which will be coming down the road as well." In other words, we're sure to hear some music from the guys in Velvet Revolver soon -- it just might not be a Velvet Revolver album, though."

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

I think most of you will know this song. I think this is one of those songs that everybody of every age probably knows. Granted, this is one of the few songs I like from BOC, but it's still a very good one.

Blue Öyster Cult is an American rock band formed in 1967, and they are still active to this day. Alot of people thought the message of the song was about suicide, because of the lyrics "Romeo and Juliet are together in eternity", but that was disputed by the song's writer/lead singer. He states:

I felt that I had just achieved some kind of resonance with the psychology of people when I came up with that, I was actually kind of appalled when I first realized that some people were seeing it as an advertisement for suicide or something that was not my intention at all. It is, like, not to be afraid of it (as opposed to actively bring it about). It's basically a love song where the love transcends the actual physical existence of the partners.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

So I was thinking about Chuck Berry, and then thought about this song. But then I remembered that Jimi Hendrix also covered the song, and that I preferred that version! Just in the opening 20 seconds, Jimi blows you away with some epic guitarwork.

I just love the very oldskool feeling I get with this song. Mind you, Chuck Berry released this song way back in 1958. Written by Berry in 1955, the song is about a poor country boy who plays a guitar "just like ringing a bell," and who might one day have his "name in lights". The song is now listed on the 6th place of The 500 Greatest Songs by Rolling Stone magazine.

Monday, October 11, 2010

I got this 70's Rock Hits CD and this one was on it. Never heard it before that, but it's a pretty oldschool song. Nonetheless, it's still a very good one.

Bachman–Turner Overdrive (frequently known as BTO) is a Canadian rock group from Winnipeg, Manitoba, that enjoyed a string of hit albums and singles in the 1970s, selling over 7 million albums in Canada in that decade. Their 1970s catalog included five Top 40 albums and six Top 40 singles. The band has sold over 20 million albums worldwide.

About 5 years ago, they split up, but last they announced they are getting back together. A new album was released in September.Tweet

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Some more awesome Jimi Hendrix today. First off, I have to acknowledge this song is an acquired taste. The first few times I heard it, I was like "what's up with that shrill sound?". But afterwards I started to see it for what it is. A sad anti-war song. When he starts playing, you can feel the sadness of it all.

Hendrix also tries to recreate war sounds with his guitar. You can hear rockets, machine gun salvos, helicopters. Granted, you won't spot most of them when you listen the song for the first time. But it's a neat touch.

Again, this was recorded live with the Band of Gypsys (Hendrix, Miles, Cox). Buddy Miles again makes sure that the song has got more punch with his drumming. He also adds some lyrics of their own, which are quite heartwrenching.

Don't you shoot him down.He's about to leave here.Don't you shoot him downHe's got to stay here.They shot him down to the ground.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Today I want to share something special. First off, I want to say I'm not into the darker rock, like Death Metal and all that stuff. It screws with my vibe. But Tool is something different. It's an alternative rock band, but it does sound a little dark, luckily, not too dark.

This is the first song I heard of them, about 7 years ago. I was instantly sold. The lyrics are quite remarkable, the song's title Forty Six and Two refers to the number of chromosomes humans will have, as the next step in evolution. Right now we have 44 autosomes and 2 sex chromosomes. If we would reach the stage of 46 and 2, we should evolve into "a more harmonious state".

Furthermore, the song references a wish to experience change through the Shadow, an idea which represents the parts of one's personality that one hates and fears. Supposedly, these are your repressed weaknesses, fears, shortcomings and instincts.

So there are alot of "out there" concepts in this song. But it doesn't matter that these concepts are weird or unaccepted. What matters is the idea that the lead singer puts forward. And I find it somehow connects to you, on some level.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Kasabian is a British rock band, that formed in Leicestershire, in 1999. They named theirselves after Linda Kasabian, who was involved with the infamous Charles Manson. So far they have released three albums: Kasabian, Empire and Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum. They will be starting to work on their fourth in November of this year.

I started listening to Kasabian after I heard the track Reason is Treason as the intro track for Gran Turismo 4. I find their songs all very catchy, a good example of good contemporary rock music, which in my opinion quite hard to find these days, with all the rap and electronic music.

The lead singer, Tom Meighan is known for alot of funny and outspoken comments about other musicians. After playing the Ibiza Rocks 2007 event, Meighan told The Skinny that he "wouldn't give a fuck if the island sank". Additionally, in an interview with the New Musical Express, he said that David S. Sexton and Mark Wahlberg were "absolute fannies".

Also after the Live Earth concert he said that he wished to see Madonna perform as she looked like his old gym teacher, although he then went on to say that his old gym teacher was a man. He has also called Julian Casablancas as "a posh fucking skier", Pete Doherty "a fucking tramp", and Justin Timberlake "a midget with whiskers". Great stuff.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Right now I'm at school. I'm a computer sciences student, in my second year of university. It so happens that I'm in my least favorite class now. Webdesign. But don't get me wrong, I like HTML, CSS and Javascript. Now I'm studying PHP, which is the biggest pain in the ass ever. I find it all so damn random, and it doesn't help my teacher is kind of a gullible idiot. While we work, he's pacing through the class constantly, making it very hard for me to play UT2004.

Another thing that is pissing me off to no end is the temperature in the class. It's 22 °C outside, and it feels like they put the heater on full. I'm sweating litres here! This also results in a rather disgusting smell coming from my armpits, making sure that the people sitting next to me now, won't be doing so the next time. Only one more hour of this hell to go, and then I can get home, and eat.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Another one of my favorite guitarists, and to me, he is one of the all time greats. He dedicated his life to become a guitarist, after falling into a barrel of sauce while working at a fast food restuarant. He then dropped out of school and started his first band named Blackbird. In 1977, he formed the band Double Trouble which had great commercial success with albums like Texas Flood and Couldn't Stand the Weather.

He tragically died on August 26, 1990 while on his way to a sold out concert of 30,000 people in East Troy, Wisconsin. It featured an encore jam with Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and others. When his helicopter took off to take him to Chicago, it crashed.

I always listen to this song to get relaxed. Lots of his music really speaks to your soul. Later on I will post some more songs, but this one is great to start off with.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Most of you probably know Lenny Kravitz. This was the first song I heard of him, and I was instantly hooked. The song was released in 1993, and became an instant hit. Are You Gonna Go My Way was one of the most played videos in 1993 on MTV and is considered a landmark music video of the 90s. It won the 1993 MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Artist, and was played live during the show with John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin fame on bass. In 2006, it was ranked as one of VH1's Top 20 Most Memorable Videos of All Time.

Also worth noting is that Kravitz is an avid fan of Jimi Hendrix. The main riff in this song is based on a riff from Hendrix' Easy Rider!

Stumbled upon this through a friend of mine. Was really suprised! Kyuss is a band formed in Palm Desert, CA, in the 80's. They are one of the 'founding members' of stoner rock. Also worth noting is that members of this band went on to start other successfull and well known groups. Lead guitarist Josh Homme went on to play in The Eagles of Death Metal, and on top of that, he's also the founding member of Queens of the Stone Age!

Thursday, September 30, 2010

"It's just the greatest piece of electric guitar work ever recorded. In fact, the whole song could be considered the holy grail of guitar expression and technique. It is a beacon of humanity."

I couldn't find a better wording myself. First heard it when I was about 13 years old, and I instantly fell in love with it. A true rollercoaster ride.

The great thing is, there are many live versions of this song, each completely different than the other. And that's what makes it such a joy listening to this amazing song. Every version is epic, but oh so different. This has to be my favorite version though. It was recorded at the Fillmore East on December 31st, 1969. This was when Hendrix was in Band of Gypsys, with the awesome Buddy Miles and Billy Cox.

I always liked Buddy's drumming better than Mitchell's, but that comes down to personal taste. It's also worth checking out the other Fillmore East songs, because Buddy Miles' singing mixed with Hendrix' guitarwork is truly breathtaking.

Saw these guys perform 2 years ago. They are alot older now haha! But they still rock. I especially love this song, their live performance of it blew me away. The song is based upon the popular TV show The Twilight Zone, of which the lead singer was a great fan.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Many of you probably know of this awesome performance. I personally find the song very simplistic, but it works so damn well. And not to forget this was performed at the best music festival of all time!

Another thing worth noticing is that the drummer, Michael Shrieve, was only 20 years old when he was at Woodstock. Damn! That's the same age as me, and he's performing for almost half a million people!

Yesterday, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame unveiled its 15 nominees. Suprisingly enough, the Red Hot Chili Peppers aren't on that list.

2009 was the first year the group were eligible, the rule being that bands can't be considered until 25 years after their first recording. They didn't get enough votes to make it into the Hall, but several forecasters assumed they'd wind up on the list again this year. Instead, they're nowhere to be found, although they shouldn't feel too bad since another rock group that didn't get voted in last year, Kiss, failed to make the cut this year either.

It took me a while to get into blues, maybe I was listening to the wrong artists. But when I first heard BB King, I was blown away. His voice, the awesome guitarwork, this song has it all! It even made the other king, Muhammed Ali, give a standing ovation. Pure genius!

So I just started this blog today. Rest assured, this is not some 1 week thing to keep me busy. I will keep updating with lots of good music and other random stuff. Feel free to contribute or to become a follower! Also, share with your friends! Give it to those that listen to shit music, and maybe they'll learn a thing or two, hahah. And of course to other people you know that enjoy rock.

I've been thinking alot about this. When I turn on the radio, all I hear is a top 40 of the most ridiculous songs. It's all the same, some generic beat with some chick or guy singing about sex, guns, alcohol (most of the time all of it in the same song).

Where is the soul these days? Where is the message? These so called popular 'artists' are being churned out by the music industry. And that's what's wrong. They look for someone of whom they think that has enough appeal for the general public. Then some guy writes songs for them, they sing it, and then it gets adjusted with a computer, because almost all of them can't sing. Adjusted with a friggin' computer! How can these people feel good about themselves?

Thank god I can still listen to music from the olden days. If you visit this blog, you know who I'm talking about.

But I'm not saying all music is bad these days, only mainstream music. There is lots of good music floating around, but it takes some time to find it. That is because the music industry is practically telling you what to like these days. Too bad most of it is shit. And alot of people are falling for it...

What I'm trying to say is, take a step back and look at what's happening.